July, 2020
If you follow me on my personal IG account, you will find me at my local watering hole of the Bungalow almost every Friday night, unless we are traveling. Located in the heart of Old North where I used to live. A causal yet contemporary eatery known for a fine selection of craft beers on tap and build your own burgers. My go to burger – custom turkey burger with spinach, tomato, pickles, cheddar cheese, lemon dill aioli, and guacamole paired with a side of sweet potato fries and a pint of one of the craft brews on tap! D’s favourite is the black & blue burger with a side of sweets and of course a couple pints of a strong IPA, the bitterer, the better.
The Springs – Hands down my favourite fine-dining establishment in London. This upscale bistro in a converted church offers seasonal cuisine with a farm-to-fork vibe. Offering live music on most nights makes this a flawless dining experience. Some of my favourites include the escargots or the house greens to start with a glass of prosecco of course! The main will almost always be the venison loin drizzled with a pomegranate chocolate gastrique – I can’t even begin to explain this dish and how divine it is with every single bite. Of course, this will be paired with a bold red from Northern California! We will likely finish the night off sharing a plate of cheese and some Port or the chocolate cake and Port. Truly no fine dining experience is complete without Port!
The Tasting Room – An upscale restaurant located on Richmond Row in the heart of downtown. Close to the Grand Theatre makes this a great pre/post show spot! Want to know why we call it the Tasting Room? It is the perfect spot to sit back, relax and share tapas with a flight of red or white! You can sample a Shiraz or Cabernet flight or perhaps a Chardonnay flight enjoying the tastes of various regions. My selection of go-to shareable plates include scallops wrapped in bacon, Asian-style beef tenderloin tips, garlic & artichoke dip, tuna poké, baked brie or the crab cakes! Really – the options are endless so enjoying tasting a bit of everything.
Los Lobos – Owned and operated by the local Wolfe brothers, you have a modern Mexican restaurant. All things tacos and tequila, but don’t let that fool you – they have other classic cocktails and a menu that will tantalise your taste buds. The brothers own and operate quite a few venues in town – so feel free to check out their other locations. With $5 tacos, you can select quite a few to sample – my favourites include the battered fish, sweet potato, bison, and beef cheek. Love nachos? Then I challenge you to eat all the $40 nachos. Trust me you will definitely want to share this, but hands down the best nachos I have ever had and I love me some good nachos!
Abruzzi – An Italian inspired venue located downtown close to the Covent Garden Market. This would be an ideal venue if you are catching a concert, show or game at the Budweiser gardens. Not a large place, but offers a warm and unique ambiance. Named after the famous Abruzzo region of central Italy in the centre of London sourcing the freshest local ingredients with a commitment to prepare them with bursting flavour and serving them with love. To start, I love the heritage salad or the seared scallops with crispy pork belly. For the main, I recommend the veal chop and finally a traditional tiramisu or cannoli will finish off this authentic Italian experience. Buon Appetito!